Debunking Dog Myths

By January 26 | See Comments

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Debunking Dog Myths
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Welcome to the world of pet-care! It is so much fun to have a dog, but it also brings with it a great deal of responsibility and knowledge. There are some common myths associated with pet dogs. Let’s debunk some of them here!

Myth#1: Dog saliva is an antiseptic

This old wives tale is definitely untrue. In the ancient times, dog’s saliva was thought to have antiseptic properties. Some people continue to believe that it can heal wounds. This belief was built upon the assumption that dogs commonly lick the wounds on their body and these wounds hardly ever get infected. This implies that the mouth of a dog must definitely be ‘clean’ and may even have a healing effect on wounds. However, this is actually false. When a dog licks its wound, it basically removes the dead tissue and this can help counter infection. Basically, a dog’s salvia isn’t really an antiseptic and may not ever be truly clean.

Myth#2: Your dog can eat anything

Dogs have the ability to identify sweet, sour, salty and bitter tastes. But the way humans perceive taste and dogs perceive taste is different. Dogs can possibly gain enough information about the food in front of them just by smelling it. Even though they are often attracted by smelly foods, this does not mean that you should feed them takeout or curry leftovers. This is definitely not good for them and can make them sick. Instead, prepare fresh and nutritionally-balanced meals for your pet at home.

Myth#3: A warm or dry nose implies that the dog is unwell

The actual signs of illness in a dog are loss of appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing and other similar distresses; not a warm or dry nose. If you dog’s nose is warm, it may just be that he’s been out in the sun for a long time. If you want to check your pet for fever, simply put your hand on his head. The normal temperature for a dog is in the range 101-101.5 degrees and therefore he may feel a bit warm to the human touch without any fever.

Myth#4: It’s safe to kiss your pet dog

According to vets, the dog’s natural mouth bacteria may not be harmful for human beings, but the tongue which has been in several unclean environments, could definitely be a cause of worry. Pet owners have complained of salmonella poisoning after they have been licked by the dog on their face. It’s true that a lot of dog owners still don’t deter from cuddling face-to-face with their friendly four-legged companion, but it is advisable for people with unsteady or weak immune systems to avoid such exposure.

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